Combined invalid and center table



(No Model.)

w; KOHLSTETDR I COMBINED INVALID AND CENTER TABLE. No. 468,112.

Patented Feb. 2.; 18 92.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILHELM KOHLSTETDE, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

COMBINED INVALID AND CENTER TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 468,112,'datec1 February 2, 1892.

Application filed October 22, 1391. Serial No. 409,503. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILHELM KOHLS'IE'IDE, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Invalid and Center Table; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a combined invalid and center table. As is well-lino em, with invalids or persons confined to their beds, it is often desirous to provide a support or table which may be projected over the bed in a suitable position for use by the person so confined, either as a dinner-table or as a support for books, games, doc.

The object of myinvention is to provide a table that will meet these requirements and also those of an ordinary center-table, and that may be readily changed from the one form to the other. To this end in constructing the table I secure the top of the same to the supporting-standard, so as to permit a shifting or sliding movement in a horizontal plane. The top may therefore be moved, so that its center is in line with the standards, or so that the greater portion of the same will project to one side of the standard. The base of the table is made extensible or shiftablein a plane parallel and in the same direction with the top, thus permitting thebase of support to be extended, so as to maintain the stability of the table When the top is shifted to one side of the support. The standard is preferably made vertically adjustable to permit the adjustment of the table-top to dilferent heights.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where in, like letters referring to like parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal vertical section of the entire device. Fig. 2 is a plan of the standard and base, the top and vertically-adjustable parts being removed; and Fig. 3 is a bottomviewof the said top and vertically-adjustable parts.

A is the base of the table, provided with the independ ently-exten sible balance-feet B. These feet are set at an angle to each other, di-

verging in the direction of their extension in a plane parallel with the top to increase the base of support laterally as well as longitudinally. The feet telescope into the'base proper, and are secured from displacement bylugs C on the feet, engaging longitudinal grooves I) out in the base.

E are casters secured to the outer ends of the extensible feet and to the opposite corners of the base.

F G is the vertically-ad j ustable supportingstandard formed of two parts telescoping one Within the other, the outer part F being supported from the base and the inner part G terminating at its top in aframe-like head II. The part G is provided with ratchet-teeth K, which are engaged by a spring-pawl L, secured to the part F internally, and released from engagement with said ratchet-teeth by a handpiece M, extending without the said piece F. v N is the shiftable top secured to the frame like head II, and permitted a sliding movement by lugs P on the said head II, engaging grooves R, extending lengthwise of the said shiftable top.

The operation is simple. The device when used as a center-table would be adjusted, as shown in the drawings, by full lines, with the extensible feet pushed into their limit and the top moved central of the supporting-standard. IVhen employed as an invalids table, the top would be shifted to one side of the supporting-standard and the extensible feet drawn out, as shown by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. In this position the top may be projected over the top of a bed or similar couch, with the extended feet under the same and out of the way. The top may then be adjustecl'to the desired height and secured by the manipulation of the spring-pawl L from the handpiece M. This construction aifords a cheap and neat design, the advantages of which are evident.

It will of course be understood that the base, instead of being made extensible, might be made shiftable in a similar manner to the top, and that other variations in construction might be made without departing from the principle of my invention.

"What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. In a table, the combination, with the supporting-standard, of a top shiftable with reference thereto in a horizontal plane and of a base provided with the independently-movble supporting-feet extensible in a plane parallel with said top and at a diverging angle to each other, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In atable, the combination, With the supporting-standard formed of two parts vertically adjustable with reference to each other and provided with a latching device for securmg the parts in a set position, of a top shift- 

